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Give Gilly a break: Rixon

Source: FOX Sports - January 21, 2006

Overworked Adam Gilchrist should be given the rest of the summer off and used sparingly in one-dayers until the World Cup, according to former Test keeper Steve Rixon.

Gilchrist's enormous workload as wicketkeeper-batsman in Australia's Test and one-day teams is burning him out, believes Rixon, and understudy Brad Haddin should now be phased in to protect the vice-captain's career.

"Gilly has been a superstar for many years, he's been brilliant and an absolute sensation and has changed the way cricket is played as a wicketkeeper-batsman," Rixon said.

"But to keep him in the game for two more years, it would be in everyone's best interest to re-think his one-day duties."

Rixon's comments come as a review of 2005 showed Gilchrist was second only to captain Ricky Ponting in "days on duty" for Australia.

From the start of 2005 to last week, the West Australian dynamo played cricket for 102 days - nearly a third of the year.

Though that is two fewer days than Ponting, the commonly-held theory is that a constantly moving wicketkeeper is the hardest working player on the field.

The figures are a clear indication Gilchrist has Australia's most physically and mentally taxing role by far.

The 34-year-old's fatigue has been evident this summer, with long, uncharacteristic stretches of poor batting.

Rixon believes after six years of shouldering Test and one-day duties, some of Gilchrist's workload should now be passed on to the highly capable Haddin.

"Opening the batting and keeping in all these domestic one day games is an incredible workload," Rixon said.

"Now is the time to be realistic if we want him to stay in the game. Give Adam a break during these home [one-day] series and he'll be better for it in the long term. They really should have rested him from that trip to New Zealand for example, it was wrong to make him go. The theory it was degrading to the tournament, that's just not right. You're replacing like with like with Haddin.

"It's all about placing people to play the game at the appropriate time. It's in the best interests of both parties."

Gilchrist has been a one-day regular since the Test and one-day sides were separated in 1997. He averages 36 at a strike-rate of 95, and two years ago blasted 172 in 126 balls against Zimbabwe.

Gilchrist is aiming for a trifecta of World Cup victories in the West Indies next year after starring in Australia's 1999 and 2003 triumphs.

"That's not to say he can't do that. I'd say you want both of them in your World Cup squad," said Rixon.

Gilchrist could prolong his Test career beyond 2007 if a one-day progression plan with Australia A captain Haddin is set in place, said Rixon.

"Brad is one of the most exciting batsmen in domestic cricket," he said.

- IAIN PAYTEN